Local coach teaches lessons on baseball, life

Monday

Jul 1, 2013 at 11:40 AM

Local coach Ed Cotton has a unique perspective when it comes to teaching a child to play baseball.

Chris SingletonStaff Writer

Local coach Ed Cotton has a unique perspective when it comes to teaching a child to play baseball.Instead of just giving the player advice on how to hit a home run or throw a strike, Cotton said he teaches them how to succeed in life.“I’m a firm believer that we train baseball players, but we raise men,” Cotton said. “I love working with kids. I like being a part of it and seeing them grow.” For 35 years, Cotton has coached baseball. The 62-year-old Chicago native moved to Houma in 1996, and he has remained here since with his wife, Mona, a Dulac native.Cotton has dedicated much of his time as a baseball coach, working with travel teams such as the Southland Hogs and the East Houma Bats over the years. Many of his former players went on to play college and professional baseball. The list of his former pupils includes recent second-round Major League Baseball draft pick Justin Williams, his older brother Michael Williams Jr., Brock Hebert, Lucas LeBlanc, Blake Bergeron, Brent Bonvillain and others. “I’ve known a lot of them since they were kids,” Cotton said. “I have always told my players that if one kid that we know makes it to the pros, then we’ve been blessed. To see the number of guys who have got an opportunity from this community is really awesome to me. It is one of the reasons I’m here today.”Southland Hogs coach Joe Teuton III said Cotton’s dedication and passion for baseball has helped raised local youth awareness for the sport, especially for African-American kids. “Coach Cotton is all about the kids,” Teuton III said. “He has the best interest of every kid in mind. It’s not about him. It’s about providing a service to the community.”Cotton performs various roles for the Hogs and other local teams, such as planning tournaments, communicating with parents and helping raise money for equipment and other travel-related expenses. He has also worked as a truck driver at Shannon Hardware for 14 years. Despite all of his jobs, Cotton said he is in his comfort zone when he is coaching baseball and interacting with kids. Cotton developed a love for baseball by attending Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox games with his grandfather. His grandfather (Oscar Cotton) and uncle (Erie Cotton) both played in the Negro Leagues.Cotton said he has learned a lot about the sport over the years, and he said it is his mission to pass on those lessons to his players. “I enjoy practice more than the game,” Cotton said. “I love getting them mentally prepared before they go out on the field. I just love to teach the game.”Cotton said he can relate to young baseball stars today because he was once in their shoes. Cotton played high school and some semi-pro ball, but he didn’t go on to play in college or in the Majors because he didn’t have “the guidance or discipline” needed.It is one of the reasons why Cotton stresses the importance of education to his players. “School is not a social event,” Cotton said. “If you are going to school, you need to handle your business because you can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t have the grades to match it, then there is a chance you won’t make it because you don’t have your act together.”Cotton’s lessons have made a big impact on the lives of his own children and former players. Cotton has two sons who coach. A lot of his former players, like Hogs coach Lance Crochet, went on to have families, and some are coaching and passing on knowledge about baseball and life to their players.“He has a philosophy,” Crochet said. “He helps you look at things in different ways, and if you have an issue, he helps you out not just only in baseball, but in life as well. He’s inspired me since I was young. He has prepared me for life outside of baseball.”Justin Williams said Cotton played a big role in his development as a player and a young man. Cotton watched as Williams, who is now playing in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, hit his first two home runs (in the same game) as a 9-year-old. “Coach Ed is a great guy,” Justin Williams said. “He knows the game really well. He’s helped my brother and I develop as amateur baseball players. I just want to say thank you Coach Ed.”Cotton, a self-described 39-year-old in a 62-year-old body, said a bad hip and other health issues have slowed him down and forced him to retire from coaching during games, but he still has the spirit to do what he can to work with local youth. “I really enjoy these guys who are here in the Hogs organization,” Cotton said. “My players are my children. My team is my family. I feel like this whole experience has been a blessing for me as a person. I’m just so grateful they were thinking about me and let me come in to work with the kids. I’m thankful for it.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.